Blackburn’s Business Improvement District (BID) has committed to continue funding two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) as part of a drive to make the town safer and more secure.

Following a review, the Blackburn BID has renewed the funding to continue until the end of the BID term in 2019.

The PCSOs, who provide a visible uniformed presence at Townsmoor and Blackburn College, work within a team of 8 police officers to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour across the BID area.

PCSO, Leanne Harrison, started training to become a PCSO in November 2014 and began patrolling the town centre and college campus early last year. She said: “Since I’ve started my role I’ve tackled anti-social behaviour, responded to concerns raised by businesses and helped to investigate crimes in the town centre. I’m looking forward to continuing my work with the BID and other key partners to make the town safer.”

The BID works with other town centre partners to promote a joined up approach to dealing with shoplifting and environmental crime.

Manager of the Blackburn BID, Harriet Roberts, said: “PCSOs play an important role in keeping our students and shoppers safe. The business community, the police, Blackburn Businesses Against Crime (BBAC) and the BID have worked extremely well together to tackle many problems in the area and the renewal of the funding for PCSOs is another example of this excellent partnership working.”

Blackburn BID has also funded a number of other security initiatives including supporting the production of crime-prevention materials and a ‘yellow and red card’ system for offenders.

BBAC Crime Manager, Ronnie O’Keeffe, said: “Over the last two years, BBAC and the BID have funded a number of anti-crime initiatives and the PCSOs have played a major role in implementing these. We work closely with the PCSOs through the shop/police link radio scheme as they are the eyes and ears in the town detecting and deterring crime. We are looking forward to developing our partnership further.”